Rising early to career calls in Pune

Vineesha, 19, says she loves to cook. “It’s always been my hobby. I follow my mother into the kitchen and help her cook.”  Many women could be sharing such interest with Vineesha, but do they have a handmade chocolate business and give cookery lessons at 19?

Vineesha is not so different from her peers, who are marching ahead on a once-distant career path. They have converted their hobbies into a tentative profession and are ably balancing work with studies.

“I don’t think of it as work”, says Nemiraj Dhoka, or DJ Nemiraj as he’s more commonly known. His mornings and afternoons are reserved for college and classes and he works at night, playing music at a popular club. His transformation from playing his console at home to playing music to a packed crowd came as a surprise even to him. “It was only a hobby”, he says, “but now I’m thinking of it as a long-term option, maybe even produce music in the future.”

Shamik Goon already has his future sorted, as a senior instructor at Rocky Poonawala Entertainment. He wasn’t so certain a few years ago while pursuing his engineering. With no interest in the field, he gave it up to follow his passion for dance. “The scenario is different now as there’s a great platform for dancers. I’m lucky to be doing something that I really enjoy,” he says.

Kiran Jalan, a first-year student, is determined not to take up a job she hates. So, she’s trying out her hand at journalism since she likes writing. She says, “I got huge exposure through my internship which I wouldn’t have got otherwise.” Through her newspaper internship, she learnt more about the profession, making her career choice simpler.

The nominal pay was also an extra bonus as she wasn’t even expecting to get paid.

It’s not only about earning the extra cash but it’s more about exploring new avenues for their talent for these youngsters. Vivek Nair, drummer of the band Lite Up, who won cash prize at a competition for a song his band wrote, says, “We play for fun. People know about us but we’re not that famous yet so we still have to get a lot more gigs to gain experience.”

He admits though, if he had a chance, he would jump at taking music up as a career.

Most say they save the money they earn. “I put the money in the bank since my expenses are covered by my pocket money”, says Nemiraj. Vineesha does the same with her hard-earned money but also adds, “I can’t call it hard-earned because it for me it’s not an effort as I’m doing something I love.”

It may be a risky choice but these students are bold and brave enough to take the plunge and passionate enough to work hard to take up hobbies as life-long vocations.